Transglutaminase gene products

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a nucleotide sequence comprising at least a portion of the nucleotide sequence of FIG.  10 A, FIG.  6 B or FIG.  10 A or FIG.  10 B; nucleotides which hybridise to the nucleotide sequences of FIG.  6 A, FIG.  6 B or FIG.  10 A or FIG.  10 B; nucleotides which are degenerate to the nucleotide sequences of FIG.  6 A, FIG.  6 B or FIG.  10 A or FIG.  10 B; all of which nucleotides encode a polypeptide having transglutaminase activity.

This is a U.S. National Phase Application Under 35 USC 371 and applicant herewith claims the benefit of priority PCT/GB01/04120 filed 14 Sep. 2001, which was published Under PCT Article 21(2) in English Application Nos. 0022768.6, filed 15 Sep. 2000 and 0111995.7, filed 16 May 2001.

The present invention relates to the identification of novel transglutaminase enzymes TG_(Z) and TG_(Y).

Transglutaminases are a family of structurally and functionally related enzymes that catalyze the post-translational modification of proteins via a Ca²⁺ dependant transferase reaction between the γ-carboxamide group of a peptide-bound glutamine residue and various primary amines. Most commonly, γ-glutamyl-ε-lysine cross links are formed in or between proteins by reaction with the ε-amino group of lysine residues. Analysis of the three-dimensional structure of the a-subunit of factor XIII showed that transglutaminases contain a central core domain containing enzymatic activity, and a N-terminal β-sandwich domain and two C-terminal β-barrel domains, which are thought to be involved in the regulation of enzyme activity and specificity.

Seven different transglutaminase genes have been characterised in higher vertebrates on the basis of their primary structure (Aeschlimann, D, and Paulsson, M (1994) Thromb. Haemostasis 71: 402–415 Aeschlimann et al: (1998) J. Biol Chem 273, 3542). Transglutaminases can be found throughout the body, but each transglutaminase is characterised by its own typical tissue distribution, although each may be present in a number of different tissue types often in combination with other transglutaminases. Transglutaminase gene products have specific functions in the cross linking of particular proteins or tissue structures. For review see Aeschlimann and Paulsson (1994) (supra) and Aeschlimann and Tholmazy (2000) Connective Tissue Res. 41, 1–27. For example, factor XIIIa stabilises the fibrin clot in haemostasis, whereas prostate transglutaminase (TG_(P))¹ is involved in semen coagulation. Other transglutaminases have adopted additional functions such as the tissue transglutaminase (TG_(C)), which is involved in GTP-binding in receptor signalling, and band 4.2 protein which functions as a structural component of the cytoskeleton. Four transglutaminases have been shown to be expressed during the different stages of epidermal growth and differentiation. Three of these, keratinocyte transglutaminase (TG_(K)), epidermal transglutaminase (TG_(E)) and TG_(X), are associated with keratinocyte terminal differentiation and the cross-linking of structural proteins to form the cornified envelope. The fourth enzyme TG_(C), is expressed in skin primarily in the basal cell layer, and plays a role in the stabilisation of the dermo-epidermal junction. The importance of proper cross-linking of the cornified envelope is exemplified by the pathology seen in patients suffering from a severe form of the skin disease referred to as congenital ichthyosis, which has been linked to mutations in the gene encoding TG_(K).

All transglutaminase enzymes appear to be encoded by a family of closely related genes. Alignment of these genes demonstrates that all members of the transglutaminase family exhibit a similar gene organisation, with remarkable conservation of intron distribution. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis indicates that an early gene duplication event subsequently gave rise to two different transglutaminase lineages; one comprising TG_(C), TG_(E), and band 4.2 protein; the other, factor XIIIa, TG_(K) and possibly also TG_(P) (Aeschlimann and Paulsson (1994) (supra)). The genes encoding TG_(K) and factor XIIIa have been mapped to human chromosome 14q11.2 and chromosome 6p24–25 respectively, whereas TG_(C) and TG_(E) have been mapped to chromosome 20q11, and TG_(P) has been mapped to chromosome 3p21–22.

Comparison of the structure of the individual transglutaminase genes shows that they may be divided into two subclasses, wherein the genes encoding TG_(C), TG_(E), TG_(P) and band 4.2 protein comprise 13 exons and 12 introns, and the genes encoding factor XIIIa and TG_(K) contain two extra exons. Exon IX of the former group is separated into two exons (X and XI) in TG_(K) and factor XIIIa, and the amino-terminal extensions of TG_(K) and factor XIIIa comprise an additional exon. However, except for the acquisition of an additional intron and the recruitment of an exon by the genes encoding factor XIIIa and TG_(K), the gene structure is remarkably conserved among all members of the transglutaminase gene family. Not only is the position of intron splice points highly conserved, but also the intron splice types. This similarity in gene structure and homology of the primary structure of the transglutaminases provides further support for the proposition that the different transglutaminase genes are derived from a common ancestral gene.

The inventors have previously isolated a cDNA encoding a novel member of the transglutaminase gene family TG_(X), from human foreskin keratinocytes (Aeschilmann et al (1998) J. Biol. Chem., 273, 3452–3460). Two related transcripts with an apparent size of 2.2 and 2.8 kb were obtained. The deduced amino acid sequence for the full-length gene product encodes a protein with 720 amino acids and a molecular mass of 81 kDa. A sequence comparison of TG_(X) to the other members of the transglutaminase gene family revealed that the domain structure and the residues required for enzymatic activity and Ca²⁺ binding are conserved and show an overall sequence identity of about 35%, with the highest similarity being found within the enzyme's catalytic domain.

The inventors subsequently determined that TG_(X) is the product of a ˜35 kb gene located on chromosome 15, comprising 13 exons and 12 introns. The intron splice sites were found to conform to the consensus for splice junctions in eukaryotes. The transcription initiation site is localised to a point 159 nucleotides upstream of the initiator methionine and the likely polyadenylation site is localised ˜600 nucleotides downstream of the stop codon. The two mRNA isoforms are the result of alternative splicing of exon III and give rise to 2 protein variants of TG_(X) which comprise catalytic activity. TG_(X) is expressed predominately in epithelial cells, and most prominently during foetal development, in epidermis and in the female reproductive system.

The inventors have now localised the TGM5 gene to chromosome 15q15 by fluorescent in situ hybridisation. Band 4.2 protein has previously been mapped to this chromosomal region (Sung L. A. et al (1992) Blood 79: 2763–2770; Najfeld V. et al (1992) Am. J. Hum. Genet 50: 71–75) and has subsequently been assigned to position 15q15.2 by expression mapping of the LGMD2A locus on chromosome 15 (Chiannikulchai N. et al (1995) Hum. Mol. Genet 4: 717–725). A short sequence encompassing the left arm of one of the YAC clones (926G10²) used for expression mapping matched with the sequence of intron 12 of the TGM5 gene placing the genes encoding TG_(X) and band 4.2 protein in close proximity on chromosome 15 (FIG. 5C). PCR with specific primers for 5′ (exon I) or 3′ (exon XIII) sequences of band 4.2 protein as well as southern blot analysis revealed that the BAC clones containing the TGM5 gene also contained the EPB42 gene and that the 2 genes are arranged in tandem.

Further analysis by the inventors has recently led to the identification of two novel transglutaminase genes TGM7 and TGM6 which encode the proteins TG_(Z) and TG_(Y) respectively. Alternative mRNA sequences of the TGM7 gene are given in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B. The TGM7 derived mRNA (FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B) comprises an open reading frame of 2130 nucleotides and a polyadenylation signal (AATAAA) 158 nucleotides downstream of the termination codon (TGA). The deduced protein for TG_(Z) consists of 710 amino acids. The deduced protein for TG_(Z) from FIG. 6A has a molecular mass of 79, 908 Da and an isoelectric point of 6.7. The deduced protein for TG_(Z) from FIG. 6B has a molecular weight of 80,065 and an isoelectric point of 6.6.

The TGM6 full length transcript (FIG. 10A) comprises an open reading frame of 2109 nucleotides. The deduced protein for the long form of TG_(Y) consists of 708 amino acids and has a calculated molecular mass of 79, 466 Da and an isoelectric point of 6.9. The transcript for the short form of TG_(Y) (FIG. 10B) comprises an open reading frame of 1878 nucleotides and the deduced protein consists of 626 amino acids with a molecular mass of 70, 617 Da and an isoelectric point of 7.6.

To analyse the relationship between the different transglutaminase genes, the inventors calculated their amino acid similarity based upon sequence alignments, and calculated their evolutionary distances using different algorithms. All the algorithms used predicted a close relationship between TG_(X), TG_(Z), TG_(Y), TG_(E), band 4.2 protein and TG_(C), and factor XIIIa and TG_(K), respectively. The grouping of TG_(X), TG_(Z), TG_(Y), TG_(E), TG_(C), and band 4.2 protein in one subclass and factor XIIIa and TG_(K) in another is supported by the results of this analysis and by the gene structure and genomic organisation of the different transglutaminase genes.

The inventors have therefore determined the structure of the human TGM5 gene, and its flanking sequences, and have mapped the gene to the 15q15 region of chromosome 15. Further, the inventors have determined that the human TGM5 gene comprises 13 exons separated by 12 introns spanning roughly 35 kb, and that the structure of the TGM5 gene is identical to that of EPB42 (band 4.2 protein), TGM2 (TG_(C)) and TGM3 (TG_(E)) genes. Southern blot analysis has also shown that TGM5 is a single copy gene in the haploid genome. The inventors developed a method for detection and identification of transglutaminase gene products based on RT-PCR with degenerate primers and using this method have discovered the gene product of the TGM5 gene in keratinocytes (Aeschlimann et al (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 3452–3460). Using this method, the inventors have identified another new transglutaninase gene product in human foreskin keratinocytes and in prostate cacrinoma tissue which has been designated TG_(Z) or transglustaminase type VII. A full-length cDNA for this gene product was obtained by anchored PCR. Long range genomic PCR was used comprising different combinations of primers designed from the flanking sequences of the TGM5–EPB42 gene sequence and the TG_(Z) cDNA sequence to explore whether the gene encoding TG_(Z) (TGM7) was present in close proximity to the other two transglutaminase genes. This placed the TGM7 gene approximately 9 kb upstream of the TGM5 gene and demonstrated that the genes are arranged in tandem fashion (FIG. 5C). The inventors have therefore determined that the transglutaminase genes, TGM5 (TG_(X)), TGM7 (TG_(Z)) and EPB42 (band 4.2 protein) are positioned side by side within approximately 100 kb on chromosome 15. It has also been found that the mouse homologues of these genes are similarly arranged on mouse chromosome 2. Finally, the inventors have identified and determined the nucleotide and amino acid sequences as well as tissue distribution for the novel transglutaminase gene products TG_(Z) and TG_(Y).

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a nucleotide sequence comprising at least a portion of the nucleotide sequence of FIG. 6A (nucleotides 6-2317 OF SEQ ID NO: 127 FIG. 6B (nucleotides 6-2312 OF SEQ ID NO: 129), FIG. 10A (nucleotides 6-2239 OF SEQ ID NO: 141) or FIG. 10B (nucleotides 6-2105 OF SEQ ID NO: 143); a nucleotide sequence which hybridise to the nucleotide sequence of FIG. 6A (nucleotides 6-2317 OF SEQ ID NO: 127), FIG. 6B (nucleotides 6-2312 OF SEQ ID NO: 129), FIG. 10A (nucleotides 6-2239 OF SEQ ID NO: 141) or FIG. 10B (nucleotides 6-2105 OF SEQ ID NO: 143); a nucleotide sequence which is degenerate to the nucleotide sequence of FIG. 6A (nucleotides 6-2317 OF SEQ ID NO: 127), FIG. 6B (nucleotides 6-2312 OF SEQ ID NO: 129), FIG. 10A (nucleotides 6-2239 OF SEQ ID NO: 141) or FIG. 10B (nucleotides 6-2105 OF SEQ ID NO: 143); all of which nucleotide sequences encode a polypeptide having transglutaminase activity.

Preferably the nucleotide sequence consists of the nucleotide sequence of FIG. 6A (nucleotides 6-2317 OF SEQ ID NO: 127), FIG. 6B (nucleotides 6-2312 OF SEQ ID NO: 129), FIG. 10A (nucleotides 6-2239 OF SEQ ID NO: 141) or FIG. 10B (nucleotides 6-2105 OF SEQ ID NO: 143).

The first aspect of the present invention also provides a nucleotide sequence which hybridises under stringent conditions to the nucleotide sequences of FIG. 6A (nucleotides 6-2317 OF SEQ ID NO: 127), FIG. 6B (nucleotides 6-2312 OF SEQ ID NO: 129), FIG. 10A (nucleotides 6-2239 OF SEQ ID NO: 141) or FIG. 10B (nucleotides 6-2105 OF SEQ ID NO: 143) and which encodes a polypeptide having transglutaminase activity. Preferably the nucleotide sequence has at least 80%, more preferably 90% sequence homology to the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 6A (nucleotides 6-2317 OF SEQ ID NO: 127), FIG. 6B (nucleotides 6-2312 OF SEQ ID NO: 129), FIG. 10A (nucleotides 6-2239 OF SEQ ID NO: 141) or FIG. 10B (nucleotides 6-2105 OF SEQ ID NO: 143). Homology is preferably measured using the BLAST program.

The invention further provides a method of expressing a polypeptide comprising inserting a nucleotide sequence according to the first aspect of the present invention into a suitable host and expressing that nucleotide sequence in order to express a polypeptide having transglutaminase activity.

The invention also provides a vector comprising a nucleotide sequence according to the first aspect of the present invention.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence comprising at least a portion of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 6A (SEQ ID NO: 128), FIG. 6B (SEQ ID NO: 130), FIG. 10A (SEQ ID NO: 142) or FIG. 10B (SEQ ID NO: 144), wherein the polypeptide has transglutaminase activity.

The invention also provides a polypeptide sequence which is at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence of FIG. 6A (SEQ ID NO: 128), FIG. 6B (SEQ ID NO: 130), FIG. 10A (SEQ ID NO: 142) or FIG. 10B (SEQ ID NO: 144) and which has transglutaminase activity. The amino acid sequence of the polypeptide having transglutaminase activity may differ from the amino acid sequence given in FIG. 6A (SEQ ID NO: 128), FIG. 6B (SEQ ID NO: 130), FIG. 10A (SEQ ID NO: 142) or FIG. 10B (SEQ ID NO: 144) by having the addition, deletion or substitution of some of the amino acid residues. Preferably the polypeptide of the present invention only differs by about 1 to 20, more preferably 1 to 10 amino acid residues from the amino acid sequence given in FIG. 6A (SEQ ID NO: 128), FIG. 6B (SEQ ID NO: 130), FIG. 10A (SEQ ID NO: 142) or FIG. 10B (SEQ ID NO: 144).

The invention also provides a composition comprising the polypeptide of the present invention for use in transamidation reactions on peptides and polypeptides.

The invention also provides a polypeptide comprising exons VII through to exon X of the sequence shown in FIG. 6A (nucleotides 6-2317 OF SEQ ID NO: 127) or FIG. 6B (nucleotides 6-2312 OF SEQ ID NO: 129). The position of the exons on the sequence shown in FIG. 6A (nucleotides 6-2317 OF SEQ ID NO: 127) or FIG. 6B (nucleotides 6-2312 OF SEQ ID NO: 129) can be determined from FIG. 8 where intron splice sites are marked with arrow heads.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a polypeptide comprising exons II through to exon IV or exons X through to exon XII of the sequence show in FIG. 10A (nucleotides 6-2239 OF SEQ ID NO: 141) or FIG. 10B (nucleotides 6-2105 OF SEQ ID NO: 143). As indicated above, the positions of the exons on the sequence shown in FIG. 10A (nucleotides 6-2239 OF SEQ ID NO: 141) or FIG. 10B (nucleotides 6-2105 OF SEQ ID NO: 143) can be determined from FIG. 8.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a composition comprising the polypeptide according to the present invention for use in the cross-linking of proteins.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a diagnostic method comprising detecting expression of the polypeptide according to the present invention in a subject or in cells derived from a subject.

The invention also provides an antibody directed against the polypeptide according to the present invention. The antibody may be any antibody molecule capable of specifically binding the polypeptide including polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies or antigen binding fragments such as Fv, Fab, F(ab′)₂ fragments and single chain Fv fragments.

The invention further provides a method of gene therapy comprising correcting mutations in a non wild type nucleotide sequence corresponding to the nucleotide sequence of FIG. 6A (nucleotides 6-2317 OF SEQ ID NO: 127), FIG. 6B (nucleotides 6-2312 OF SEQ ID NO: 129), FIG. 10A (nucleotides 6-2239 OF SEQ ID NO: 141) or FIG. 10B (nucleotides 6-2105 OF SEQ ID NO: 143). Such gene therapy methods can be performed by homologous recombination techniques or by using ribozymes to correct small sequence mutation. Suitable techniques are well known to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of diagnosis of autoimmune disease comprising taking a sample from a subject and testing that sample for the presence of a transglutaminase encoded by the nucleotide sequence of FIG. 6A (nucleotides 6-2317 OF SEQ ID NO: 127), FIG. 6B (nucleotides 6-2312 OF SEQ ID NO: 129), FIG. 10A (nucleotides 6-2239 OF SEQ ID NO: 141) or FIG. 10B (nucleotides 6-2105 OF SEQ ID NO: 143) or portions thereof. Preferably the transglutaminase is detected by using an antibody having affinity for the transglutaminase.

The invention also provides a competitive protein binding assay for the differential diagnosis of autoimmune diseases comprising the detection of antibodies against the transglutaminase encoded by the nucleotide sequence of FIG. 6A (nucleotides 6-2317 OF SEQ ID NO: 127), FIG. 6B (nucleotides 6-2312 OF SEQ ID NO: 129) or FIG. 10A (nucleotides 6-2239 OF SEQ ID NO: 141) or FIG. 10B (nucleotides 6-2105 OF SEQ ID NO: 143), or portions thereof.

Preferably the protein binding assay comprises using exogenous transglutaminase TGz or TGy, or both, as a competitive antigen.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying FIGS. 1 to 11, in which:

FIG. 1 is a representation of the genomic organisation of the human TGM5 gene. The human TGM5 gene is represented with the exons numbered I to XIII indicated by solid boxes separated by the introns 1 to 12. The sizes of the introns and exons are given in bp (base pairs). The 5′- and 3′-untranslated regions in exon 1 and XIII, respectively, are represented by hatched boxes with functional elements defining the transcript indicated. Additional sequence elements found in the TGM5 gene are indicated as follows: Alu, Alu 7SL derived retroposon; STS, sequence tagged site. Below the genomic map, a representation of the sequences present in the individual BAC clones is depicted.

FIGS. 2A–2B is a representation of the structure of the 5′ untranslated region of the human TGM5 gene and mapping of the transcriptional start site. FIG. 2A. Primer extension analysis of poly (A⁺) RNA isolated from primary human keratinocyte prior to (lane 1) or after (lane 2) culture in suspension for 12 h. Extension products were separated on denaturing polyacrylamide gel alongside a Sanger dideoxynucleotide sequencing reaction of the appropriate genomic DNA fragment (SEQ ID NO: 123) primed with the same oligonucleotide. The transcriptional start site is indicated by the arrow. FIG. 2B. Nucleotide sequence of the proximal 5′ region of the TGM5 gene (SEQ ID NO: 124), 5′ ends of mRNA from primary keratinocytes mapped by RACE are indicated by arrowheads. The major transcription start site identified by primer extension is highlighted with an asterisk (labelled +1). Consensus sequences for putative regulatory elements are underlined.

FIG. 3 is a representation of the structure of the 3′ untranslated region of the human TGM5 gene (SEQ ID NO: 125). 3′-flanking sequence is shown with sequences homologous to known consensus sequences for 3′ processing of transcripts (AATAAA, CAYTG and YGTGTTYY) underlined. The termination points of cDNA's isolated from human keratinocytes (Aeschlimann et al (1998) J. Biol Chem 273, 3453–3460) by 3′ RACE are indicated by arrowheads. A pair of inverted long repeat sequences is highlighted in italics. The end of the encoded amino acid sequence is shown (SEQ ID NO: 126).

FIG. 4 is a southern blot analysis of human genomic DNA hybridised to genomic TG_(X) probes. Human genomic DNA was digested with BamHI, EcoRI, and HindIII restriction enzymes and hybridised with short ³²P-labelled DNA fragments corresponding to intron 2 and flanking sequences of exon II and III (left panel) and exon X (right panel), respectively. The migration positions of the HindIII DNA size markers is indicated on the left.

FIG. 5 shows the chromosomal localisation of the human TGM5 gene by fluorescence in situ hybridisation. A. representative picture of fluorescine-labelled genomic DNA of BAC-228(P20) (fluroescence, arrows) hybridised to metaphase spreads of human chromosome stained with propidium iodide. B. An ideogram of banded chromosome 15 showing the localisation of the fluorescent signal on 13 chromosomes. C. Is a schematic map of the respective locus showing the organisation of the genes encoding TG_(x) (TGM5), band 4.2 protein (EPB4.2) and TG_(Z) (TGM7) as well as other genes [mitochondrial ATPase subunit D pseudogene; D-type cyclin-interacting protein 1 (DIP1); EST Genbank AA457639, AA457640)], L1 repetitive element and genetic markers.

FIG. 6A shows the nucleotide sequence and deduced amino acid sequence for human TG_(Z)(nucleotides 6-2317 of SEQ ID NO: 127 and SEQ ID NO: 128). FIG. 6B. shows an alternative nucleotide sequence (nucleotides 6-2312 of SEQ ID NO: 129) and deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 130) for human TG_(Z). The initiation and termination codons as well as polyadenylation signal (AATAAA) are underlined.

FIG. 7 is a representation of the different tissue expression patterns for TG_(X), band 4.2 protein TG_(Y) and TG_(Z) in different fetal and mature human tissues. Human tissue Northern dot blot normalised for average expression of 9 different housekeeping genes probed with a fragment corresponding to the C-terminal β-barrel domains of TG_(X) (A), TG_(Z) (B), (C) TG_(Y) and band 4.2 (D). A diagram showing the type of poly (A)⁺ RNA dotted onto the membrane is shown in panel E.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are a comparison of the structure of the different human transglutaminase genes. FIG. 8A. is an alignment of the nine characterised human gene products (TG_(X)(SEQ ID NO: 131), TG_(Y)(SEQ ID NO: 134), TG_(Z)(shown in FIG. 6A (SEQ ID NO: 128)), TG_(C)(SEQ ID NO: 136), TG_(E)(SEQ ID NO: 135), band 4.2 (SEQ ID NO: 133), factor XIII a-subunit (SEQ ID NO: 137), TG_(K)(SEQ ID NO: 138), TG_(P)(SEQ ID NO: 139)) is shown, with dashes indicating gaps inserted for optimal sequence alignment and underlined residues representing amino acids conserved in at least five gene products. The sequences are arranged to reflect the transglutaminase domain structure, based on the crystal structure of factor XIII a-subunit. N-terminal propeptide domain (d1), .beta.-sandwich domain (d2), catalytic core domain (d3) and .beta.-barrel domains 1 (d4) and 2 (d5) (from top to bottom). Known intron splice sites are marked by ▾. FIG. 8B. is an alignment of the nine characterised human gene products (TG_(X)(SEQ ID NO: 131), TG_(Y)(SEQ ID NO: 134), TG_(Z)(SEQ ID NO: 130), TG_(C)(SEQ ID NO: 136), TG_(E)(SEQ ID NO: 135), band 4.2 (SEQ ID NO: 133), factor XIII a-subunit (SEQ ID NO: 137, TG_(K)(SEQ ID NO: 138), TG_(P)(SEQ ID NO: 139),) is shown, with dashes indicating gaps inserted for optimal sequence alignment and underlined residues representing amino acids conserved in at least five gene products. The sequences are arranged to reflect the transglutaminase domain structure, based on the crystal structure of factor XIII a-subunit. N-terminal propeptide domain (d1), .beta.-sandwich domain (d2), catalytic core domain (d3) and .beta.-barrel domains 1 (d4) and 2 (d5) (from top to bottom). Known intron splice sites are marked by arrowheads.

FIG. 9 is a phylogenetic tree of the transglutaminase gene family and genomic organisation of the genes in man and in mouse. Sequences were aligned to maximise homology as shown in FIG. 8 except including sequences from different species as available: h, human; m, mouse; r, rat. Note, the mouse sequence for TG_(X) ³ is at present incomplete and no information is available for the N-terminal domain. In panel A5, a hypothetical pedigree for the gene family is given that is consistent with the data on the sequence relationship of the individual gene products (A) as well as with the data on the gene structure and genomic organisation (B). Phylogenetic trees based on the amino acid sequence homology of the gene products have been constructed using the NJ method (Saitou and Nei, 1987) of the PHYLIP software package for (1) the N-terminal β-sandwich domain (2) the catalytic core domain, (3) the C-terminal β-barrel domains, and (4) the entire gene products, (C). Shows the similarity of TG_(X) to the other transglutaminase gene products. The domain structure is based on the X-ray crystallographic structure of the factor XIII a-subunit dimer and inferred on the other gene products based upon the sequence alignment shown in FIG. 8. The numbers reflect % sequence identity.

FIGS. 10A and 10B shows the nucleotide sequence and deduced amino acid sequence of TG_(Y). FIG. 10A. Shows the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence for the long form of TG_(Y)(SEQ ID NO: 141 and 142). FIG. 10B. Shows the nucleotide sequence and deduced amino acid sequence for the short form of TG_(Y)(SEQ ID NO: 143 and 144).

FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of the organisation of the identified transglutaminase gene clusters in the human genome.

Isolation and Determination of the Structure of the Human TGM5 Gene

A unique insertion sequence of about 30 amino acids between the catalytic core domain and β-barrel domain 1 found in TG_(X) was used as a template to design specific primers for the screening of a human genomic library. The characterisation of several genes of the transglutaminase gene family showed that the positions of the introns has been highly conserved and a comparison of the TG_(X) sequence to the sequences of the other transglutaminases indicated that this unique sequence is present within an exon, exon X (see FIG. 8, aa 460–503) in TG_(X). A PCR reaction from human genomic DNA using oligonucleotides P1 and P2 that match sequences at either end of this unique segment yielded a DNA fragment of expected size which was confirmed to be the correct product by sequencing (results not shown). Screening of a human genomic DNA BAC library by PCR using these oglionucleotides revealed two positive clones, BAC-33(P5) and BAC-228(P20) that were subsequently shown by Southern blotting with different cDNA probes to contain sequences spanning at least exon II to exon X of the TGM5 gene (results not shown).

Restriction analysis further indicated that each of the BAC clones contained substantially more than 50 kb of human genomic DNA.

The similarity in the gene structure of the different transglutaminase genes prompted us to approach the characterisation of introns by PCR amplification using oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the flanking exon sequences at the presumptive exon/intron boundaries. All intron/exon boundaries were sequenced from the PCR products obtained in at least two independent PCR reactions, where applicable from both BAC clones, to exclude mutations introduced by Taq DNA polymerase, and the results compared. When sequences of PCR products comprising adjacent introns had no overlap, the intervening sequence (exon sequence) was determined by direct sequencing from isolated BAC plasmid DNA to confirm the absence of additional introns. Similarly, the 3′-untranslated region was obtained by step-wise extension of the known sequence using direct sequencing of BAC plasmid DNA. Both BAC clones terminated short of exon I and all attempts at isolating clones spanning exon I by screening of BAC and P1 libraries failed. Exon I and intron 1 sequences were finally derived by nested PCR from human genomic DNA using conditions optimised for long range genomic PCR.

We established that the TGM5 gene comprises approximately 35 kb of genomic DNA and contains 13 exons and 12 introns (FIG. 1). All intron/exon splice sites conform to the known GT/AG donor/acceptor site rule and essentially to the consensus sequence proposed by Mount S. M (1982) Nucleic Acids Res. 10, 459–472. (Table I). A sequence homologous to the branch point consensus CTGAC (Keller E. B and Noon. W. A (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81: 7417–7420) was found 24 to 44 nucleotides upstream of the 3′ splice site in introns 1, 3–6, and 9–12. The size of the introns varied considerably, ranging from 106 bp to more than 6 kb (FIG. 1, Table II). The sequence obtained from the two different BAC clones matched with the exception of a deletion spanning the sequence from intron 6 to intron 8 in BAC-33(P5) (FIG. 1).

Further, we also resequenced the entire coding sequence of TG_(X) and found 3 point mutations as compared to the previously reported cDNA sequence (Aeschlimann. et al (1998) J. Biol Chem 273 3452–3460) One of the nucleotide exchanges is silent, the other two result in an amino acid exchange (Table III). The first two mutations were found in both BAC clones, the third was only present in BAC-228(P20) due to the deletion in the other BAC clone. These differences may result from sequence polymorphisms in the human gene pool as there was no ambiguity of the cDNA-derived sequence in this position determined from multiple independently amplified PCR products. However, the fact that a serine and alanine residue are changed into a proline and glycine residue that constitute the conserved amino acid in these positions in the transglutaminase protein family (see FIG. 8, aa 67 and aa 352 in TG_(X)) suggested that these may have been PCR-related mutations in the cDNA sequence. To clarify this issue, we have prepared cDNA from human foreskin keratinocytes from different individuals, amplified full-length cDNA with high fidelity DNA polymerase, and sequenced the respective portions of the cloned cDNAs. The data confirmed that allelic variants exist with differences in these positions (Table III).

The isolation and sequencing of cDNAs encoding TG_(X) and Northern blotting with TG_(X) cDNA probes revealed expression of at least two differentially spliced mRNA transcripts for TG_(X) in human keratinocytes. Solving the gene structure confirmed the short form of TG_(X) to be the result of alternative splicing of exon m as predicted. A third isolated cDNA that differed also at the exon III/exon IV splice junction turned out to be the result of incomplete or absent splicing out of intron 3 as the sequence upstream of exon IV in the cDNA matched with the 3′ sequence of intron 3. Exon 3 encodes part of the N-terminal β-barrel domain of TG_(X) and the absence of the sequence encoded by exon 3 is expected to result in major structural changes in at least this domain of the protein. Nevertheless, expression of TG_(X) in 293 cells using the full-length cDNA resulted in synthesis of two polypeptides with a molecular weight consistent with the predicted products from the alternatively spliced transcripts (results not shown).

Initially, 5′ RACE was used to determine the 5′ end of TG_(X) cDNAs. Transcripts starting 77,96 and 157 nucleotides upstream of the initiator ATG were isolated in addition to the previously described shorter transcript (FIG. 3B, arrowheads). All of these transcripts were recovered repeatedly in independent experiments. Finally, primer extension experiments located the major transcription initiation site used in keratinocytes 157 nucleotides upstream of the translation start codon (FIG. 3). The proximal promoter region was analysed for potential binding sites of transcription factors using MatInspector (Genomatix, Munich Germany) and GCG (Genetics Computer Group, Inc., Madison, Wis.) software packages. No classical TATA-box sequence was found but a number of other potential transcription factor binding sites could be identified (FIG. 3 b), suggesting that TG_(X) promoter is a TATA-less promoter. Interaction of C/BP (may bind to CAAT-box), nuclear factor I (NF1) and upstream stimulatory factor (USF) to form a core proximal promoter has been demonstrated in a number of TATA-less genes. c-Myb is found in TATA-less proximal promoters of genes involved in hematopoiesis and often interacts with Ets-factors, and these sites may be operative in the expression of TG_(X) in hematopoetic cells, e.g HEL cells AP1, Ets and SP1 elements are typically found in keratinocyte-specific genes and may be involved in transcriptional regulation in keratinocytes. Several AP1 sites are present within 2.5 kb of the upstream sequence and could interact with the proximal AP1 factor for activation. SP1 sites are properly positioned upstream of the start points of the shorter transcripts raising the possibility that these could also be functional, though to a lesser degree.

The last exon, exon XIII, contained a consensus polyadenylation signal AATAAA-600 bp downstream of the termination codon (FIG. 3). This is in good agreement with the size of the mRNA (2.8 kb) encoding full-length TG_(X) expressed in human keratinocytes as detected by Northern blotting considering the length of the coding sequence (2160 bp.). A CAYTG signal that binds to U4 snRNA which is identical for 4 out of 5 nucleotides is present in tandem in 3 copies 7 nucleotides downstream of the polyadenylation signal. A close match (YCTGTTYY) of another consensus sequence YGTGTTYY that is found in many eukaryotic transcripts and provides a signal for efficient 3′ processing is present 46 nucleotides downstream of the polyadenylation signal. However, we have previously reported that all cDNAs isolated by RT-PCR with an oligo(dT) oligonucleotide from human keratinocytes ended within 9 to 34 nucleotides downstream of the pentanucleotide ATAAA at position 2169. It has been shown that this pentanucleoditde functions as a polyadenylation signal and these shorter transcripts are selectively enhanced by PCR amplification because of the smaller size of the PCR product.

Chromosomal Localisation of the TGM5 Gene

To address the genomic organisation and identify the chromosomal localisation of the TGM5 gene or genes in the human genome, we performed Southern blot analysis of human genomic DNA cut with BamHI, EcoRI and HindIII restriction enzymes using probes derived from intron 2 as well as from the sequence encoded by exon X that is unique to TG_(X) (FIG. 4). Bands of 4.5, 6.0, 10.5, 4.3, 9.3 and 2.6 kb were revealed with the respective probes. The simple pattern of restriction fragments hybridising with the probes indicated that the haploid human genome contains only one TGM5 gene.

The TGM5 gene was subsequently localised to chromosome 15 by fluorescent in situ hybridisation of human metaphase chromosome spreads using genomic DNA derived from either BAC clone as a probe (FIG. 5A). A comparison of the probe signal to the DAPI banding pattern localised the TGM5 gene to the 15q15 region. The localisation was subsequently refined by determining the distance of the fluorescent signal to the centromere as well as to either end of the chromosome on 13 copies of chromosome 15 and expressing it as a fractional distance of the total length of the chromosome. These measurements placed the TGM5 gene close to the centre of the 15q15 region, i.e. to the 15q15.2 locus (FIG. 5B).

TGM5 is Part of a Cluster of Transglutaminase Genes

The EPB42 gene has previously been assigned to locus 15q15.2 on chromosome 15. This raised the possibility that the EPB42 gene may be arranged in tandem with the TGM5 gene. Indeed, PCR with specific primers for sequences derived from the 5′ and 3′ of the EPB42 gene yielded products of appropriate size from both, BAC-33(P5) and BAC-228(P20) (results not shown) and sequencing confirmed the identity of the PCR products. Southern blotting of BAC plasmid DNA with cDNA probes comprising the 5′ or 3′ end of the EPB42 gene and subsequent comparison of the pattern of labelled restriction fragments with that of the TGM5 gene allowed us to map this locus in more detail. The EPB42 gene and TGM5 are arranged in the same orientation being spaced apart by ˜11 kb (FIG. 5C) approximately 30% of which was sequenced to characterise the 3′ and 5′ flanking UTR of the TGM5 and EPB42 gene, respectively.

To analyse the relationship between the most closely homologous genes of the transglutaminase gene family (TGM7, TGM5 and EPB42 on human chromosome 15q15.2 and TGM2 and TGM3 on chromosome 20q11/12), we mapped the respective mouse genes using radiation hybrid mapping. All genes mapped to the distal part of mouse chromosome 2. The genes for tgm7, tgm5, and epb42 showed a best fit location for the segment defined by D2Mit104 proximal and D2Mit305 (66.9cM) and an LOD of >20 to D2Ertd616e (69.0cM). This is in good agreement with the assigned locus 67.5cM distal from the centromere, White, R. A., et al., (1992) Nat. Genet. 2, 80–83. This tgm3 gene showed a best fit location for the segment defined by D2Mit447 proximal and D2Mit258 distal, with a highest LOD of 14.8 and 12.2 to D2Mit258 (78.0cM) and D2Mit338 (73.9cM), respectively. The tgm2 gene showed a best fit location for the segment defined by D2Mit139 proximal (86.0cM) and D2Mit225 distal (91.0cM), with a highest LOD of 17.0 to the anchor market D2Mit287, consistent with it's assigned locus 89.0cM from the centromere, Nanda, N., et al., (1999). Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 366, 151–156.

We developed a method for detection and identification of transglutaminase gene products based on RT-PCR with degenerate primers and using this method discovered the gene product of the TGM5 gene in keratinocytes. Using this same method, we have identified another new transglutaminase gene product in human foreskin keratinocytes and in prostate carcinoma tissue which we designated TG_(Z) or transglutaminase type VII. A full-length cDNA for this gene product was obtained by anchored PCR (see below). We used long range genomic PCR with different combinations of primers designed from the flanking sequences of the TGM5–EPB42 gene segment and the TG_(z) cDNA sequence to explore whether the gene encoding TG_(z), TGM7, was present in close proximity to the other two transglutaminase genes. This placed the TGM7 gene approximately 9 kb upstream of the TGM5 gene and demonstrated that the genes are arranged in tandem fashion (FIG. 5C). The 5′ UTR of the TGM5 gene was sequenced (FIG. 2). The genes encoding TG_(C), TG_(E), which are more closely related to the TGM6, TGM7, and EPB42 genes than the other transglutaminase genes based on amino acid sequence comparison and similarity in gene structure (FIG. 9) have been mapped to human chromosome 20q11 (Gentile V. et al (1994) Genomics 20, 295–297; Kim I. G. et al (1994) J. Invest. Dermatol 103, 137–142). The syntenic regions of the 15q15 and 20q11 locus in the mouse are present in a short segment, 2F1-G, of chromosome 2, which puts all five transglutaminase genes in proximity (FIG. 9B). The mouse homologue of band 4.2 protein has been mapped to this region of mouse chromosome 2 (White R. A. et al (1992) Nat. Genet 2, 80–83). We have isolated a BAC clone containing the gene encoding the mouse homologue of TG_(x) and shown that the tgm5 gene is located next to the epb42 gene in tandem fashion, similar to the organisation in the human genome. Furthermore, this clone was shown to contain the gene encoding the mouse homologue of TG_(z). Genomic sequences derived from this BAC clone and also cDNA sequences derived from cDNA prepared from mouse uterus showed that the mouse and human gene products are 85% identical on the nucleotide level. To analyse the relationship between the transglutaminase genes in more detail, we calculated the amino acid similarity (FIG. 9C) based on the sequence alignment shown in FIG. 8 and calculated evolutionary distances using different algorithms (FIG. 9A). All algorithms predicted a close relationship between TG_(X) and TG_(E), and band 4.2 protein and TG_(C), raising the possibility that a single transglutaminase gene initially locally duplicated to generate a cluster of 3 genes, followed by a duplication of a larger segment of the chromosomal region, gave rise to the organisation of the genes in mouse. In humans these chromosomal regions were apparently redistributed to two different chromosomes. This hypothesis led us to spectulate on the existence of an additional gene on human chromosome 20q11. Careful analysis of the chromosomal sequences of this locus derived by the human genome project revealed the presence of a candidate gene, TGM6, located approximately 45 kb downstream of the TGM3 gene consistent with our hypothesis (FIG. 11). To confirm that this is in fact a functional gene and not a pseudogene, we screened a large number of cell lines for expression of a respective gene product by PCR. A corresponding gene product, TG_(Y), or transglutaminase type VI could be identified in a small cell lung carcinoma cell line and a full-length cDNA was subsequently derived by anchored PCR.

Determination of cDNA and Amino Acid Sequences of TGM6 (TG_(Y)) and TGM7 (TG_(Z)) Gene Products

A full-length cDNA sequence for TG, was obtained by anchored PCR using oligo(dT)-Not I primed cDNA prepared from human foreskin keratinocytes, prostate carcinoma tissue and human carcinoma cell line PC3, essentially following the strategy previously described (Aeschlimann et al (1998) J. Biol Chem 273: 3245–3460). The oligo(dT)-Not I primer was used as the anchoring primer to obtain the 3′ end of the cDNA. 5′ RACE was used to determine the 5′ end of the cDNA. The obtained sequence information (FIG. 6) contained an open reading frame 2130 nucleotides and a polyadenylation signal (AATAAA) 158 nucleotides downstream of the termination codon (TGA). The deduced protein consists of 710 amino acids. The cDNA and amino acid sequence in FIG. 6A was first determined and the deduced protein has a calculated molecular mass of 79,908 Da and an isoelectric point of 6.7. The cDNA and amino acid sequence in FIG. 6B was then determined. This sequence differs by a few nucleotides and amino acids from the sequence given in FIG. 6A. The protein deduced from the sequence given in FIG. 6B has a calculated molecular mass of 80,065 and an isoelectric point of 6.6. A number of aberrantly spliced gene products were isolated which lacked part of exon IX (5′end) or-retained the whole or part of intron 11. These products are unlikely to be of physiological significance but may point out that splicing of certain introns in this gene is a difficult and inefficient process.

A full-length cDNA sequence for TG_(Y) was obtained by PCR using oligo(dT) primed cDNA prepared from the lung small cell carcinoma cell line H69, and using sequence specific primers based on the presumptive transcribed genomic sequence. 5′ RACE was used to determine the 5′ end of the cDNA. The obtained sequence information for the long form of TG_(Y) (FIG. 10A) contained an open reading frame of 2109 nucleotides. The deduced protein for the long form of TG_(Y) consists of 708 amino acids and has a calculated molecular mass of 79,466 Da and an isoelectric point of 6.9. A shorter transcript was also isolated which apparently resulted from alternative splicing of the sequence encoded by exon XII. The absence of exon XII results in a frame shift and thereby in premature termination within exon XIII. The obtained sequence information for the short form of TG_(Y) (FIG. 10B) contained an open reading frame of 1878 nucleotides. The deduced protein for the short form of TG_(Y) consists of 626 amino acids and has a calculated molecular mass of 70,671 Da and an isoelectric point of 7.6. The sequence alterations due to the splicing result in a short protein which terminates just after the first C-terminal β-barrel domain. The β-barrel domains have been implicated in the regulation of enzyme-substrate interaction, and the lack of the second C-terminal β-barrel domain (see FIG. 8, d5) is likely to be of biological significance.

The catalytic mechanism of transglutaminases has been solved based on biochemical data available for several transglutaminases and the X-ray crystallographic structure of the factor XIII a-subunit dimer. The reaction center is formed by the core domain and involves hydrogen-bonding of the active site Cys to a His and Asp residue to form a catalytic triad reminiscent of the Cys-His-Asn triad found in the papain family of cysteine proteases. The residues comprising the catalytic triad are conserved in TG_(Y) (Cys276, His335, Asp358) and TG_(Z) (Cys227, His336, Asp359) (FIG. 8) and the core domain shows a high level of conservation as indicated by a sequence identity of about 50% between these gene products and the other transglutaminases FIG. 9). A Tyr residue in barrel 1 domain of the a subunit of factor XIII is hydrogen-bonded to the active site Cys residue and it has been suggested that the glutamine substrate attacks from the direction of this bond to initiate the reaction based on analogy to the cysteine proteases. In TG_(Y), the Tyr residue is conserved (Tyr 540) while in TG_(Z) the Tyr residue has been replaced by His538 similar to TG_(X) (FIG. 8). This is expected to be a conservative change which is supported by our data demonstrating that recombinant TG_(X) from 293 cells has transglutaminase activity. Crystallization experiments with factor XIIIa further indicated that 4 residues are involved in binding of Ca²⁺-ion, including the main chain carbonyl of Ala457 and the side chain carboxyl groups of Asp438, Glu485, and Glu490. All three acidic residues are conserved in TG_(Y) and in TG_(Z) (FIG. 8). None of the residues critical to enzyme function are affected by the alternative splicing of TG_(Y). Based on the preservation of critical residues for enzyme function and domain folding and the extensive overall similarity of the TG_(Y) isoforms and TG_(Z) to the other members of the transglutaminase protein family, it can be predicted that the characterized cDNAs are encoding active transglutaminases.

Tissue Expression Patterns for TG_(X), TG_(Y) and TG_(Z)

We have previously shown that TG_(X) is expressed in a number of different cell types (Aeschlimann et al (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 3452–3460). To obtain a more complete picture on the expression of TG_(X) and the novel gene products, we performed a dot blot Northern blot analysis of more than 50 adult and fetal human tissues. Band 4.2 protein was expressed at high level in bone marrow and fetal spleen and liver, consistent with its role in hematopoietic cells, and virtually undetectable in all other tissues. In contrast, TG_(X), TG_(Y) and TG_(Z) showed widespread expression at low level, with highest levels of TG_(X), TG_(Y) and TG_(Z) mRNA present in the female reproductive system, in the central nervous system, and in testis, respectively (FIG. 7).

RT-PCR analysis on human cell lines and tissues shows that TG_(Z) is expressed in osteosarcoma cells (MG-63), dermal fibroblasts (TJ6F, HCA2), erythroleukemia cells (HEL), in primary keratinocytes, mammary epithelium carcinoma cells (CF7), HELA cells, skin, brain, heart, kidney, lung, pancreas, placenta, skeletal muscle, fetal liver, prostate and in prostate carcinoma tissue. A similar analysis for TG_(Y) revealed expression only in a lung small cell carcinoma cell line (H69) and extremely low levels of expression in tissues.

In conclusion, TG_(Z) is expressed widely in cells and tissues and expression levels are not apparently affected by cellular differentiation, (i.e keratinocyte differentiation or fibroblast senescence). TG_(Y) expression, on the other hand, was very restricted and expression was only found in H69 cell line. This cell line has characteristics of neuronal cells such as the expression of neuron-specific enolase and brain isozyme of creatine kinase which together with widespread expression in tissues of the nervous system suggests that TG_(Y) expression may be specific to neuronal cells. Transglutaminase action has been implicated in the formation of aberrant protein complexes in the central nervous system leading to nerve cell degeneration, e.g in Alzheimers and Huntington's disease. Based on its expression pattern, TG_(Y) is a logical candidate to bring about the underlying transglutaminase-related pathological changes.

Reagents

Oligonucleotides were from Oligos. Etc. Inc. (Wilsonville, Oreg.) or life technologies and restriction enzymes from Promega Corp. (Madison, Wis.).

Genomic Library Screening

A human BAC library established in a F-factor-based vector, pBeloBAC 11, and maintained in E. coli DH10B was screened by PCR (Genome Systems, Inc., St. Louis, Mo.). A 147 bp DNA fragment unique to TG_(X) was amplified from 100 ng of genomic DNA in 100 .mu.l of 10 mM Tris/HCl, pH 8.3, 50 mM KCl containing 2 mM MgCl₂, 0.2 mM dNTPs using 2.5 units of Tag DNA polymerase (Fisher Scientific Corp. Pittsburgh, Pa.) and 50 pmol of upstream primer P1,5′-CCACATGTTGCAGAAGCTGAAGGCTAGAAGC (SEQ ID NO: 1) and downstream primer P2,5′-CCACATGTCCACATCACTGGGTCGAAGGGAAGG (SEQ ID NO: 2). PCR cycles were 45 sec at 94.degree. C. (denaturation), 2 mm at 60° C. (annealing), and 3 min. at 72° C. (elongation) for a total of 37 cycles, with the first cycle containing an extended denaturation period (6 mm) during which the polymerase was added (hot start), and the last cycle contained an extended elongation period (10 mm). Two positive clones were identified, BAC-33(P5) and BAC-228(P20) (Genome Systems), and their identity verified by Southern blotting. Plasmid DNA was prepared using a standard alkaline lysis protocol. 2 .mu.g plasmid DNA was restricted with BamHI, EcoRI, and SpeI and probed with a ³²P-labelled-500 bp NcoI/BspHI and .about.600 bp BspHI/NdeI cDNA fragment of TG_(X), respectively, as described below.

Amplification of TGM5 Intron Sequences

PCRs were carried out with 2.5 units of Taq DNA polymerase (Fisher Scientific) and 100–200 ng of plasmid DNA from BAC clones in 100 .mu.l of 10 mM Trs/HCl, pH 8.3 50 mM KCl containing 2 mM MgCl₂, 0.2 mM dNTPs and 50 pmol of the desired oligonucleotide primers. The PCR cycles were 45 sec at 94° C. (denaturation), 1 mm at 60° C. (annealing), and 5 min at 72° C. (elongation). A total of 32 cycles were carried out, with the first cycle comprising an extended denaturation period (6 mm) during which the polymerase was added (hot start) and the last cycle comprised an extended elongation period (10 mm). The following oligonucleotides were used as upstream and downstream primers, respectively, in the individual reactions:

-   intron 2,5′-GGACCACCTGCTTGTTCGCCGGGG (SEQ ID NO:     3),5′-AGGGGCTGGGGCTGTGATGGCGTG (SEQ ID NO: 4); -   intron 3,5′-ACCTCITGAAAATCCACATCGACTCCT (SEQ ID NO: 5),     5′-CAGTTCTTGCTGCCTTGGTAGATGAAGCC (SEQ ID NO: 6); -   intron 4,5′-GACAGTGAACCCCAGAGGCAGGAG (SEQ ID NO: 7),     5′-TCTGTGGCTGGGTCAGTCTGGAAGTGCA (P3; (SEQ ID NO: 8)); -   intron 5,5′-GCCTGCACTTCCAGACTGACCCAGCCACA (SEQ ID NO: 9),     5′-TCCAGTITCCATFITGAGCACCCCA (SEQ ID NO: 10); -   intron 6,5′-TGCTGGGTCTTTGCTGCCGTCATGTGC (SEQ ID NO: 11),     5′-TCCTTTCTTTATTCCCCAAAATCCTGCC (SEQ ID NO: 12); -   intron 7,5′-TAGATGAGTATTATGACAACACAGGCAGG (SEQ ID NO: 13),     5′-GCGTCCAGCACCTGCCAGCCTCC (SEQ ID NO: 14); -   intron 8,5′-TGAGTGCTGGATGGCCCGGAAGG (SEQ ID NO: 15),     5′-CCCGCTCGTCACTCTGGATGCTC (SEQ ID NO:16); -   intron 9,5′-TTCACCAGGACACGAGTTCTGTTGGCA (SEQ ID NO: 17), P2 (see     above); -   intron 10, P1 (see above), 5′-TCAGGACTGCTTTTCTCTTCACCC (SEQ ID NO:     18); -   intron 11,5′-ACCCCTGCAAAATCTCCTATTCCC (SEQ ID NO: 19),     5′-AATATCACCTGTATGGAGAGTGGCTGG (SEQ ID NO: 20); -   intron 12,5′-TTGAGGACTGTGTGCTGACTGTGGM (SEQ ID NO: 21);     5′-AATGATGCTTGCTTGGTGTTGGGG (SEQ ID NO: 22).

PCR's were carried out with 1.25 units of Pfu Turbo DNA polymerase (Stratagene) and 260 ng genomic DNA in a total of 100 μl of supplied reaction buffer supplemented with 0.2 mM dNTPs, 2 μl DMSO and 50 pmol primers. The PCR cycles were 45 sec at 94° C. (denaturation), 1 min at 68° C. (annealing), and 2 min at 72° C. (elongation). A total of 37 cycles were made, with the first cycle containing an extended denaturation period (6 min) during which the polymerase was added (hot start), and the last cycle containing an extended elongation period (10 min).

Rapid Amplification of 5′-mRNA End

A modified RACE protocol was used to determine the transcription start site and obtain additional sequence information of exon I. Double stranded cDNA was prepared from poly(A⁺) RNA of cultured normal human keratinocytes (Aeschilmann et al (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 3452–3460) with the Copy Kit (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.). The cDNA was purified from nucleotides using the GlassMax DNA Isolation Kit (Life Technologies, Inc.) and tailed in the presence of 200 μu.M dCTP with 10 units of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (Promega) for 30 mm at 37° C. to anchor the PCR at the 5′-end. The PCR reaction was anchored by performing a total of 5 cycles of one-sided PCR at a lower annealing temperature (37° C.) with the abridged anchor primer (Life Technologies, Inc.) only. Following transfer of 25% of this reaction at 94° C. to a new tube containing abridged anchor primer and TG_(X)-specific primer P3 (see above), the first round of amplification was carried out for a total of 37 cycles under the conditions described above except for annealing which was carried out at 55° C. Nested PCR was done with the universal amplification primer (Life Technologies, Inc.) and TG_(X)-specific primer P4, 5′-TGAAGTACAGGGTGAGGTTGAAGG (SEQ ID NO: 23), as described above (annealing at 60° C.) using 1.0 μ.l from the first round PCR.

Primer Extension Analysis

Oligonucleotide P55′-CATGGTAGCTGCCTCCGGTTCCTG (SEQ ID NO: 24) containing a 5′-infrared label (IRD 800) was purchased from MWG Biotech (Ebesberg, Germany). Primer P5 (5.3 pmol) was hybridised to 1 .mu.g of poly (A⁺) RNA from primary keratinocytes (Aeschlimann et al (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 3452–3460) and reverse transcription performed with 200 units of Superscript II RNAse H reverse transcriptase (Life Technologies) in a total of 20 .mu.l for 90 min. at 42° C. according to the manufacturer's instructions. Enzyme was heat inactivated and primer extension products extracted with phenol chloroform, precipitated with ethanol, and then analysed on a 4.5% denaturing polyacrylamide gel adjacent to dideoxynucleotide chain termination sequencing reactions (Thermo Sequenase Cycle Sequencing Kit; Amersham) derived from a double-stranded genomic DNA fragment using the same primer.

DNA Preparation and Sequencing

Plasmid DNA from BAC clones was further purified for direct sequencing by digestion with 200 μg/ml of RNase A (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) for 1h at 37° C. and by subsequent micro-dialysis using Spectra/Por 2 membranes (Spectrum Medical Industries, Inc. Laguana Hills, Calif.). PCR produts were gel purified using the QIA quick Gel Extraction Kit (Qiagen, Inc. Chatsworth, Calif.) for sequencing. Cycle sequencing was performed by the dideoxy chain termination method using the Cyclist Exo-Pfu DNA Sequencing Kit (Stratagene, LaJolla, Calif.) and pre-cast 6% polyacrylamide gels with the CastAway Sequencing System (Stratagene) or using the dRhodamine Terminator Cycle Sequencing Ready Reaction Kit (PE Biosystems) and an ABI 310 automated sequencer.

Southern Blotting

18 μg human genomic DNA was digested with BamHI, EcoRI, and HindIII restriction enzymes, separated in a 0.8% agarose gel and transferred to a Zeta-probe membrane (Bio-Rad, Labs. Hercules, Calif.). The gel was calibrated using the Lambda DNA/HindIII markers (Promega). ³²P-labelled probes were prepared by random prime labelling using the Multiprime DNA Labelling System (Amersham, Int. Amersham, UK) and PCR products corresponding to intron 2, intron 12, and exon X (see above) as DNA templates. Probes were hybridised to the blot overnight at 65° C. in 500 mM NaH₂PO₄, pH 7.5, containing 1 mM EDTA and 7% SDS. The membrane was washed at 65° C. to a final stringency of 40 mM NaH₂PO₄, pH 7.5, 1 mM EDTA, and 1% SDS, and the result developed by exposure of the membrane to BioMax MR film (Eastman Kodak, Rochester, N.Y.).

Chromosomal Localisation

Human peripheral blood lymphocytes were used to prepare metaphase chromosome spreads (Bebbington C. R. and Hentschel, C. C. G. (1987) in DNA cloning (Volume III) 184–188, IRL Press, Oxford UK). Cells were cultured in PB-Max Karyotyping medium (Gibco, BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.) for 72h, and synchronised by culture in the presence of 10⁻⁷M amethophterin (Fluka) for another 24h. Cells were released from the mitotic block by extensive washing and subsequent culture in the above medium containing 10⁻⁵M thymidine for 5h. Cells were subsequently arrested in metaphase by addition of colcemid to a final concentration of 0.1 μg/ml (Gibco BRL). Harvested cells were incubated in 0.075M KCP for 25 min at 37° C., fixed in methanol/acetic acid (3:1) solution, and chromosome spreads prepared by dropping the cells onto the glass slides. After air drying, chromosomes were treated with 1001 g/ml of RNase A in 2×SSC for 1 h at 37° C., denatured in 70% (v/v) formamide in 2×SSC for 3 min at 75° C., and dehydrated in a graded ethanol series. DNA probes were prepared by random prime labelling of plasmid DNA of BAC-33(P5) and BAC-228(P20) with fluorescine-conjugated dUTP using the Prime-It Fluor Fluorescence Labelling Kit (Stratagene). Probes were denatured at 75° C. for 10 min in hybridisation buffer consisting of 50% formamide (v/v) and 10% dextran sulphate (w/v) in 4×SSC and prehybridised at 42° C. for 20 min to 0.2 μg/l human competitor DNA (Stratagene) to block repetitive DNA sequences. Probes were subsequently hybridised to the chromosome spreads at 37° C. overnight, followed by washing to a final stringency of 0.1×SSC at 60° C. Spreads were mounted in phosphate-buffered glycerol containing 200 ng/ml propidium iodide to counterstain chromosomes. Slides were examined by epifluorescence microscopy using a 100× objective and images captured with a DC-330 CCD camera (DAGE-MTI, Inc. Michigan City, 1N) using a LG-3 frame grabber board (Scion Corp. Frederick, Md.) in a McIntosh 8500 workstation and a modified version of the NIH image 1.6 software (Scion Corp.). Images representing fluorescine-labelling and propidium iodide staining of the same field were superimposed using Adobe Photoshop 3.0 (Adobe Systems, Inc. Mountain View, Calif.) to map the gene to a chromosomal region.

Cloning of Novel Transglutaminase Gene Products by Anchored PCR

For cloning of TGy, poly(A)⁺ RNA was prepared from about 106H69 cells (American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md.) by oligo(dT)-cellulose column chromatography using the Micro-Fast Track Kit (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.) and recovered in 20 .mu.l 10 mM Tris/HCl, pH 7.5. The poly(A)⁺ RNA (5.0 .mu.l) was reverse transcribed into DNA in a total volume of 20 μl using the cDNA Cycle Kit (Invitrogen) with 1.0 μl oligo(dT) primer (0.2 μg/μ). Overlapping fragments of TG_(Y) were amplified by PCR using oligonucleotides 5′-ATCAGAGTCACCAAGGTGGAC (SEO ID NO: 25), 5′-AGAAACACATCGTCCTCTGCACACC (P6) (SEO ID NO: 26), 5′-CAGGCTTTCCTCTCACCGCAAACAC (SEQ ID NO: 27), 5′-CGTACTTGACTGGCTTGTACCTGCC(SEO ID NO: 28), 5′-TCTACGTCACCAGGGTCATCAGTGC(SEO ID NO: 29), 5′-GCCTGTTCACCGCCTTGCTGT (SEO ID NO: 30), 5′-CATCACTGACCTCTACAAGTATCC(SEO ID NO: 31), 5′-ACGGCGTGGGATTCATGCAGG(SEO ID NO: 32), 5′-CATCCTCTATACCCGCAAGCC(SEO ID NO: 33), and 5′-AGGTTGAGGCAGGATTAACTGAGGCCTC(SEO ID NO: 34). PCRs were carried out with 1.25 units of AmpliTaq Gold DNA polymerase (PE Biosystems) and 2.0 .mu.l cDNA in a total of 50 .mu.l of supplied reaction buffer supplemented with 2 mM MgCl.sub.2, 0.2 mM dNTPs and 25 pmol of the appropriate gene-specific primers. A total of 40 PCR cycles were made, with an elevated annealing temperature of 65° C. for the initial 5 cycles and an annealing temperature of 60° C. for the remaining cycles. The 5′-end of the cDNA was isolated by 5′-RACE as described above with the exception of using the gene-specific oligonucleotides P6,5′-GATGTCTGGAACACAGCTTTGG (SEQ ID NO: 35), and 5′-TCACAGTCCAGGGCTCTGCTCAG (SEQ ID NO: 36). The PCR-products were either directly sequenced or when desired, cloned by taking advantage of the 3′A-overhangs generated by Taq DNA polymerase using the Original TA-Cloning Kit (Invitrogen).

For cloning of TG_(Z), we used a series of degenerate and gene-specific oligonucleotides to isolate overlapping DNA fragments, essentially following our previously described strategy. TG_(Z)-specific oligonucleotide primers were 5′-CAACCTTGCGGCTTGAGTCTGTCG (SEQ ID NO: 37), 5′-CAGCAGCTCTGACGGCTTGGGTC (P7) (SEQ ID NO: 38), 5′-ATCACCTTTGTGGCTGAGACCG (SEQ ID NO: 39), 5′-CAAGGGTTAAAAAGTAGGATGAAAGTTC (SEQ ID NO: 40), 5′-CACAGTGTGACTTACCCGCTG (SEQ ID NO: 41), 5′-CATACACCACGTCGTTCCGCTG (SEQ ID NO: 42), 5′-CTTAAAGAACCCGGCCAAAGACTG (SEQ ID NO: 43), 5′-CGATGGTCAAGTTCCTATCCAXGTTG (SEQ ID NO: 44), 5′-TGTTGTTTCCAATFfTCCGTFfCCGC (SEQ ID NO: 45), 5′-TCTGGCACCCTCTGGATACGCAG (SEQ ID NO: 46), 5′-CTTAGGGATCAGCCAGCGCAGC (SEQ ID NO: 47), 5′-GCGGATGAACCTGGACTTTGG (SEQ ID NO: 48), 5′-GGGTGACATGGACTCTCAGCG (SEQ ID NO: 49), 5′-TGGGCAAGGCGCTGAGAGTCCATG (SEQ ID NO: 50), 5′-GCTGGAGGGCGGGTCTCAGGGAGC (SEQ ID NO: 51), and 5′-AGGACAGAGGTGGAGCCAAGACGACATAGCC (SEQ ID NO: 52). Preparation of cDNA from human foreskin keratinocytes and prostate carcinoma tissue has been described previously. The PCRs were performed under the conditions described above or for PCR with degenerate primers as described previously. Nested PCRs were done by replacing the cDNA with 1.0 .mu.l from the first PCR reaction. The 5′-end of the cDNA was isolated by 5′-RACE as described above with the exception of using the gene-specific oligonucleotides P7,5′-TGAAGCTCAGCCGGAGGTAGAAG (SEQ ID NO: 53), and 5′-GACAGACTCAAGCCGCAAGGTTG (SEQ ID NO: 54).

Northern Hybridization

A human RNA Master Blot containing poly(A)⁺ mRNA of 50 different tissues was obtained from Clonetech Laboratories, Inc (Palo Alto, Calif.). ³²P-labeled probes were prepared by random prime labelling of DNA fragments of the different transglutaminase gene products using the Multiprime DNA Labelling System (Amersham, mt., Amersham, UK). DNA fragments of 500–700 bp compromising the 3′-end of TG_(X), TG_(Z), and band 4.2 protein, were generated by restriction with Pst I and Acc L Nco I and Not I (exon XII and XIII), and Xho L respectively. The cDNA encoding human band 4.2 protein (Korsgren et al. 1990) was kindly provided by Dr Carl M. Cohen, Boston, Mass. A 220 bp ³²P-labeled fragment of TG_(Y) was generated by PCR using oligonucleotides 5′-CAGCCTCAGTCACCGCCATCCGC (SEQ ID NO: 55) and 5′-GATACFfGTAGAGGTCAGTGATG (SEQ ID NO: 56). Hybridization was performed under the conditions recommended by the manufacturer. The labeled membrane was exposed to BioMax MR film (Eastman Kodak) and films developed after 15 to 24 hr for first exposure and 3 to 5 days for second exposure.

Amplification of TG_(Y) and TG_(Z) From Different Tissues

cDNA from various cell lines and human tissue was prepared as previously described. A panel of cDNAs from human tissue (Multiple Tissue cDNA Panel I) were also obtained from Clonetech Laboratories. A 365 or 287 bp fragment of TG_(Z) was amplified by PCR using oligonucleotides 5′-TGGGCAAGGCGCTGAGAGTCCATG (SEQ ID NO: 57) and 5′-GCTGGAGGGCGGGTCTCAGGGAGC (SEQ ID NO: 58) or 5′-AGGACAGAGGTGGAGCCAAGACGACATAGCC (SEQ ID NO: 59), respectively, with an annealing temperature of 60° C. A 218 or 170 bp fragment of TGy was amplified by PCR using oligonucleotides 5′-CAGCCTCAGTCACCGCCATCCGC (SEQ ID NO: 61) and 5′-GATACTTGTAGAGGTCAGTGATG (SEQ ID NO: 61) or 5′-GTGAAGGACTGTGCGCTGATG (SEQ ID NO: 62) and 5′-CGGGAAGTGAGGGCTTACAAG (SEQ ID NO: 63), respectively, and identical conditions as above.

Mapping of Transglutaminase Genes in Mouse Genome

The 100 radiation hybrid (RH) clones of the T31 mouse/hamster RH panel (McCarthy et al., (1997), Genome Res., 7, 1153–1161) (Research Genetics, Huntsville, Ala.) were screened by PCR. A 139 bp fragment of the TGM5 gene was amplified with primers5′-TGAGGACTGTGTGCTGACCTfG (f) (SEQ ID NO: 64) and 5′-TCCTGTGTCTGGCCTAGGG (r) (SEQ ID NO: 65), a 149 bp fragment of the epb42 gene with primers 5′-CAGGAGGAGTAAGGGGAATTGG (1) (SEQ ID NO: 66) and 5′-TGCAGGCTACTGGAATCCACG (r) (SEQ ID NO: 67), a 400 bp fragment of TGM7 with primers 5′-GGGAGTGGCCTCATCAATGG (t) (SEQ ID NO: 68) and 5′-CCTTGACCTCACTGCTGCTGA (r) (SEQ ID NO: 69), a−600 bp fragment with TGM3 with primers 5′-TCGGTGGCAGCCTCAAGATTG (f) (SEQ ID NO: 70) and 5′-AGACATCAATGGGCAGGCATGG (r) (SEQ ID NO: 71), and 655 bp and 232 bp fragments of TGM2 with primers 5′-TTGGGGAGCTGGAGAGCAAC (f) (SEQ ID NO: 72) and 5′-ATCCAGGACTCCACCCAGCA (r) (SEQ ID NO: 73) and primers 5′-(GCGGCCGCTAGT)CCACATTGCAGGGCTCCTGACT (f) (SEQ ID NO: 74) and 5′-GCTAGCCTGTGCTCACCATGAGG (r) (SEQ ID NO: 75), respectively. PCRs were carried out in a GeneAmp 9600 thermacycler with 0.035 units/.mu.l AmpliTaq Gold polymerase in standard reaction buffer containing 2 mM MgCl₂, 0.2 mM dNTPs, 0.4 μM of each primer and 2.5 ng/.mu.l genomic DNA in a total reaction volume of 25 μl. PCR conditions were: polymerase activation for 10 min at 95° C., annealing at 60° C. for 45 sec, extension at 72° C. for 1 min and denaturation at 94° C. for 30 sec for 35 cycles with a final extension of 3.5 min at 72° C. PCR reactions were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis using 1% or 1.5% gels. The hybrid cell panel was analyzed at least twice in each case to exclude PCT related errors. The data was submitted to the Jackson Laboratory Radiation Hybrid Database for analysis and mapped relative to known genomic markers (http://www.jax.org/resources/documents/cmdata.rhmap).

TABLE I Splice donor and acceptor sequences in the human TGM5 gene. Residues consistent with the splice site consensus sequence (MAG/GTRAG and YAG/G) are underlined. Intron number Donor sequence Acceptor sequence 1        M  A  Q                               G  L  E  V  A GCTACCATGGCCCAAGgtagggaaagcccctgtggccactggagtt ttttgtctaaccctggctgccccattgcagGGCTAGAAGTGGCC 2  F  V  V  E  T                               G  P  L  P  D TTCGTGGTTGAAACTGgtaagaaccccagctggctcacaggggctg tggagggcctcagctctacttccctcctagGACCGCTGCCAGAC 3  N  P  W  C  P                               E  D  A  V  Y AATCCCTGGTGCCCAGgtaaggctgggtgcccaggcggtgcctcct tgcttcgtgccctcccactctggttcctagAGATGCTGTCTAC 4  W  N  Y  G  Q                                F  E  D  K  I TGGAACTATGGACAGgtgagtctcagccctgcttatggcccatcc tgccttccctctctgcctctccccccgaagTTTGAAGACAAAATC 5  V  V  C  A  M                                I  N  S  N  D GTGGTGTGTGCCATGgtgaggtccctggcgtgcccggggaggagg ctcacacttctctatatggcttctcttcagATCAACAGCAATGAT 6  A  V  M  C  T                               V  M  R  C  L GCCGTCATGTGCACAGgtaggaggtagaaaggacctcacaaaaagg acaggtgatttttttgtgccctttttgcagTGATGAGGTGTCTG 7  K  D  T  I  W                                 N  F  H  V  W AAGGATACTATCTGgtgagaaacaacctctcaacctatttctag caacgtctcccttggctctgtttgatacagGAACTTCCATGTCTGG 8  Q  E  M  S  N                               G  V  Y  C  C CAGGAGATGAGCAACGgtgaggctctccagaagaaaggcaggcccc gcccaccgaggctcccctgttctccttcagGCGTCTACTGCTGT 9  Y  K  Y  E  E                               G  S  L  Q  E TACAAGTATGAAGAAGgttagtaagcaagccagccctactcagagc cagctggtgctgtgctctccccaacttcagGATCCCTCCAGGAG 10  L  S  P  K  E                               A  K  T  Y  P CTCTCTCCTAAAGAAGgtacgcatgtgcacagtttgtgtacgcaga tctcaccccatccttgtgttctttctttagCAAAGACCTACCCC 11  S  I  T  I  N                                V  L  G  A  A AGCATCACGATTAATgtaggcaggagtcctgcaaatggcttgtgg taattctccttcccctcctggtctgtttagGTTCTAGGAGCAGCC 12  Q  Q  K  V  F                                 L  G  V  L  K CAGCAGAAAGTCTTgtaagtgctgcaagtgctcagccttctcct ttttctgacatgctccattctctgttgcagCCTTGGAGTCCTCAAA

TABLE II Intron sizes and splice types in the human TGM5 gene. Sizes of introns are estimated to be within about a 100 bp unless indicated to be sequenced entirely. Intron number Splice type Size Method 1 1 6,300 bp PCR 2 1 102 bp Sequencing 3 1 3,300 bp PCR 4 0 2,900 bp PCR 5 0 600 bp PCR 6 1 ~11,800 bp PCR and Restriction Analysis 7 2 1,600 bp PCR 8 1 106 bp Sequencing 9 1 2,900 bp PCR 10 1 545 bp Sequencing 11 0 1100 bp PCR 12 2 209 bp Sequencing

TABLE III Apparent polymorphisms in the cDNA and genomic DNA sequences for TG_(x). The positions with nucleotide and amino acid variations are underlined. Residue cDNA (a) Gene cDNA (b) 67 S TCA P CCA P CCA 220 Y TAC Y TAT Y TAC 352 A GCA G GGA A GCA (a) Aeschlimann et al., 1998 (b) additional sequence variant isolated in this work 

1. An isolated and purified nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide having transglutaminase activity wherein the polypeptide is as shown in FIG. 10A (SEQ ID NO: 142) or FIG. 10B (SEQ ID NO: 144), or is a polypeptide that differs by 1 to 20 amino acid residues from the polypeptide shown in FIG. 10A (SEQ ID NO: 142) or FIG. 10B (SEQ ID NO: 144).
 2. A nucleic acid molecule according to claim 1 consisting of the nucleotide sequence of FIG. 10A (SEQ ID NO: 141) or FIG. 10B (SEQ ID NO: 143).
 3. A nucleic acid molecule according to claim 1 which comprises the nucleotide sequence of FIG. 10A (SEQ ID NO: 141) or FIG. 10B (SEQ ID NO: 143).
 4. A vector comprising a nucleotide sequence according to any one of claims 1 to
 3. 5. A method of expressing a polypeptide comprising inserting a vector according to claim 4 into a suitable host and expressing the nucleotide sequence in order to express a polypeptide having transglutaminase activity.
 6. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 which encodes the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 142. 7. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 which encodes the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 144. 8. The method of claim 5 wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 142. 9. The method of claim 5 wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 144. 10. The vector of claim 4 wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 142. 11. The vector of claim 4 wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 144. 